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HomeNewsKawartha Land Trust Looking To Raise $1.3 Million To Protect Prime Stoney...

Kawartha Land Trust Looking To Raise $1.3 Million To Protect Prime Stoney Lake Waterfront From Development

KAWARTHA LAKES-A group of Ston(e)y Lake residents and cottagers recently paddled across Stony Lake to collect pledges and gain support for the protection of a 10.5-acre forested property with 200 metres of natural shoreline.

Kawartha Land Trust (KLT), a local charitable land trust, must reach $1.325 million in pledges by September 6th to be able to protect the land forever and raise another $50,000 to cover the closing costs associated with this conservation effort. If enough pledges are not received by the September 6th deadline, the property is at risk of being sold and developed. As of August 1, 2024, $471,585 in pledges have been confirmed.

The land that is for sale is directly adjacent to Kawartha Land Trust’s Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve, which was established in 2018 through the final estate of Ston(e)y Lake resident Norman Cowan. The protection of the property for sale would add to the nature reserve’s protected lands, add one kilometre of trails to KLT’s popular Stony Lake Trails network, and protect vital natural shoreline on Ston(e)y Lake.

Ben Samann, owner and general manager of Viamede Resort, which is located on the north shore of Ston(e)y Lake, has come forward with a lead pledge of $200,000 to protect what’s being called the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve Extension. The Huycke Family has supported the campaign with a generous $100,000 pledge.

One of the residents who has been paddling on the lake for pledges is Tina Warren. For several months, Tina has been getting into her kayak on Ston(ey) Lake to deliver pledge forms and share news and updates about the project with community members. 

Warren and partner Lois Wallace have filled out their own pledge forms…twice. Together, they updated their original pledge from $20,000 to $50,000.

“There are few opportunities in your life where you really get a chance to make the environment better for people, where you can protect a forest or shoreline from all the development we see around us,” said Warren.

“And Stoney is special. It changes you. At least it changed us, so at this stage in our lives we care more about investing in its protection than in spending the money on ourselves or our cottage…”

The funds raised at this year’s Stoney Lake Sprint and matched by the Stony Lake Heritage Foundation were donated to the project. Other community groups have also come together to make contributions to the conservation effort.

Resident Jane Zeidler donated a 1.5-acre property to Kawartha Land Trust to protect it in perpetuity.

Zeidler originally purchased the property to ensure its protection and has now entrusted its care to KLT. The property features 125 m of natural shoreline along Ston(e)y Lake and is part of the larger commitment to conservation that’s happening on the lake this year.

“Our lives are better when nature is protected,” said Thom Unrau, KLT’s Director of Community Conservation.

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